Life In An Unincorporated AreaAdjacent To The City Of DetroitBy Howard H. BeecherForCommunity ProblemsSummer Session 1928

General Information

The area I am going to describe is located in the southeast corner of
Oakland County, known as the Hazel Park School District. The name
was given to the area by a real estate company at the time it was bought
and subdivided. When it was taken over by sub-dividers 12 years ago
it was covered with woods and brush, and was considered a fine hunting
ground. It covers four square miles in area and is square in shape. It
is bounded on the west by Campbell Road and the City of Ferndale, on the
north by Ten Mile Road and school district number nine, an unincorporated
area on the east by Dequindre Road and Macomb County, the adjacent area
being unincorporated, and on the south by Eight mile Road and the City
of Detroit.

In June 1923, the population of the area was 1,776. A phenomenal
increase has taken place since that time.1 According to the estimate of
the Hazel Park Public School’s census list the population was about 14,000
in May 1928. Thirty five hundred are of school age and about 3,100 will
enroll in school in September. These people belong to the working
class and are not wealthy. Their success depends on the industrial and
labor conditions in the City of Detroit as there are no industries in Hazel
Park. At one time it was estimated that 75% of the laborers worked
at Ford Motor Company. During the time that the Fords factories were closed,
some got work elsewhere, but many of them were out of work for several
months and conditions were very bad. Some had to give up their homes, which
they were buying on the installment plan, and many had to have help from
charitable organizations. Fifteen percent of the adults are foreign born,
and about 10 percent of the children of school age were born in other countries.
Americanization classes are offered each year in night school to help foreign
adults prepare for their citizenship examinations. Literature, information
and help are given out from the school superintendent’s office. He is a
member of the Americanization Committee of Detroit.

Approximately 20% of the population is continually drifting so it makes
the community unsettled and hard to organize. The general feeling is everybody
for himself and let the other fellow go.

The housing conditions are bad in some parts of Hazel Park. There are
many modern well-kept homes with five or six rooms and quite a large number
of modern two family income bungalows. On the other hand there are
many garage homes that have only two or three rooms. I have no data so
I cannot compute the house congestion but I do know that in many of these
small houses, father, mother, and five or six children have to live.
It is hard to conceive of the conditions that the school nurses tell about
in their report. Running water is not present in all parts of the district
so unsanitary conditions do exist. Many houses do not have basements
because of inadequate sewers. The land is low and many parts are swampy.
Water often stands around or under the houses for several days. There are
times each year when it is impossible for people to get in and out of their
houses because of water. Often, they have to leave and go live with
relatives or friends until the water subsides.

1. See Table ­Page 12
The majority of the people who buy lots and build in this section do
it because they want to get out of the city and away from high rents. They
buy their lots and a little lumber on the installment plan. Along
with the help of friends they build their houses nights and Sundays. Contractors
build a few houses from time to time and sell them on the installment plan.
It is not an attractive place for contractors to build houses because it
is difficult to get building or mortgage loans and also because of so many
small houses in most of the neighborhoods and the lack of ample fire protection.

There are about 15 miles of open ditches in or surrounding Hazel Park.
These ditches are from eight to 10 feet wide at the top, narrowing to two
to three feet at the bottom and four to six feet in depth. They have been
dug because it was thought they would help drain the land and act as outlets
for sewers. There is very little fall to them and in the spring, or after
a heavy rain, they are full of water. Some of the water gradually
goes away but never all of it, and what remains becomes stagnant and full
of disease germs and are a menace to health. In the summer, the smell
of these ditches can be detected from two or three blocks away. Think
of living near such a ditch and having your children playing in or near
the polluted water.

The City of Highland Park, not having a satisfactory place within its
boundaries where garbage could be disposed of, went outside its city limits
and even beyond the city limits of Detroit one and one half miles to secure
the place. Seven years ago the City purchased several acres of land
that is located in the northeast quarter of the four square miles of Hazel
Park. They keep from 400-600 hogs at this location where they squeal,
sleep, stink and eat. The hogs are fed the garbage that is transported
from Highland Park in large trucks. The unpleasant aroma that comes
from these yards often penetrates the air many blocks away. It has
been declared a menace to public health and a hindrance to building developments,
but because of the lack of local incorporation, it seems impossible to
compel the owners to move it.

Within the last two years Hazel Park has voted on incorporation as a
village three times without success. The negative votes won by a
small majority at the last vote. One and a half years ago the section
voted on annexation to the City of Detroit. It voted itself in, but
was turned down by the Detroit voters. At present, there is a petition
filed that has been accepted by the Township Board of Supervisors for the
area to vote on annexation to the City of Royal Oak on September 4th.

Partisan and sectional strife have divided the district into many opposing
factions. Some favor annexation to Ferndale and other favor annexation
to Royal Oak. Some oppose annexation to any other community, but
favor incorporation as a village or as a city; others are content to remain
as they are, while others have no opinion on the matter.

About 125 stores do the business that is carried on in Hazel Park.
Some of the owners are prospering while others are not. Some are
like the population in that they come and go. The chain grocery stores
do most of the grocery business.

As in all new communities there is a real estate office on nearly every
other corner along the main streets. Some of the salesmen are making
a living and others are not. It is easy to see that the standard
of living in this section depends on the labor conditions in Detroit.

The assessed evaluation of Hazel Park as of July 1, 1927, was $11,762,575.00.
This made per capita evaluation of $927.00 at that time. The school
tax rate for 1927-28 was $25.75 for each $1,000.00 evaluation, while the
total rate was $35.25. The school budget for 1927-28 called for $343,000.00.
There are two banks in the section that take care of the ordinary banking
needs, but they can only make small loans because of limited resources.

Civic Factors.

There is no form of local government. The governing power is vested
in the township and county authorities. The township offices are
four miles away at Royal Oak, and the county offices are at Pontiac, 16
miles distant. There are many things that could be done under local
government that cannot be done under the present form. It is nearly
impossible to get improvements. It is a real job to make progress
in a community where there are 14,000 people with no local government,
and next to a large city where the community feels the effect of crime
as it exists in the city. There are cases that need immediate
attention, but by the time they get to the county authorities, they put
the offenders on probation and allow them to go free. Stolen automobiles
are often found harbored in the district. Blind pigs and all
the forms of vice that go with them carry on in various part. There
is an endless number of petty robbery causes and very few of the offenders
can be caught.

There are four deputy sheriffs appointed by the County Sheriff of Pontiac,
who has headquarters in a police booth at the main corner of the district.
The booth was bought, paid for and moved to the corner by the local Exchange
Club. The deputies wore citizen’s clothes until two months ago when
they bought new blue uniforms. They are good officers but are subject
to calls to other pats of the Township at all times. Sometimes when
they are needed very badly in Hazel Park they cannot be found.

Fire protection is very inadequate. The Township has a fire hall
near the center of the district where it maintains one fire engine, chemical
fire extinguishers and the Township’s ambulance. The Fire Department
could give better service that it does if there were more hydrants.
There are only 15 in the four square miles. If a fire gets a little
start, the building usually burns to the ground because of the lack of
fire fighting apparatus or the lack of hydrants near the fire’s location.
The fire engine is subject to calls outside the four square miles and into
other parts of the Township. The lack of fire protection makes the
rate of fire insurance very high.

The three main highways are paved and there is pavement on the north,
west and south boundaries. Some of the cross streets are cindered
but in the spring there are many, many streets that cannot be traveled.
People have to leave their cars along the main highways and walk to their
homes.

Two bus lines on John R and Nine Mile Road cover four miles in the district
and run over different routes to the Ford factory, where transfer is made
to Detroit downtown bus, car and jitney lines. Bus service over these
two lines runs every 10 minutes. A streetcar line with 30 minutes
service passes diagonally through Hazel Park. The Detroit City bus
line runs over Eight Mile Road, the south boundary of the district, where
five minute service is maintained. These means of transportation
do not serve the district adequately.

There are sidewalks along many of the streets, but in most cases they
are the ones placed by the smooth-tongued sub-dividers. They were
built cheaply and usually are placed lower than the streets, so much of
the time they are covered with water.

There is no garbage collection. The usual method of disposal is
by burying or burning. However, there are many who throw it on the
ground, where it creates an ideal place for the development of disease
germs that are gladly carried by the files and mosquitoes.

There are no parks or recreational centers in Hazel Park except the
school grounds that are made available throughout the summer, as well as
during the school year. Gymnasium classes for men and women are held
with the high school gymnasium during the winter.

Through the strenuous and untiring efforts of the local Exchange Club
a post office has been located near the main corner. The office has
been open about a year. Before that time the people had to go to
Ferndale, two miles distant, to mail parcel post packages and there was
only one delivery of mail a day. Near the main corner it was delivered
to the stores and homes, but for the most part, it was left in rural delivery
mail- boxes on the corners. Now we have two home deliveries a day
in all parts of the district.

The sewer system is inadequate to take care of the needs. Where
there are sewers they are small and cannot take care of the regular sewage
without the surface water. In many parts there are no sewers and
the unsanitary out door toilets have to be used.

Many parts of the area do not have running water so the people have
to carry it. They often get it two or three blocks away from a well
that has not been inspected by health authorities and perhaps it is a menace
to health. The running water is obtained from the Detroit Water Department.

The Detroit Edison Company furnishes the electric current that is available
in all parts of the section.

The Consumer’s Power Company supplies Hazel Park with gas for domestic
purposes. It is available throughout the section at present.
Until two years ago when the company piped the entire district, people
had to use oil or wood stoves for their cooking.

The first telephone was installed in Hazel Park during the summer of
1924. The service has been gradually increased since that time, but
it was less than six months ago that it was possible for everyone who wanted
it, to get a telephone.

The school system of Hazel Park is the only thing that makes one think
that there is enough common organization so you can call it a community.
If it were not for state legislation regarding schools there would not
be any cooperation. In fact, a cooperative spirit is not very marked
even in school matters. The people support them because the State
says they have to. The school controls the center of the stage for
both comment and criticism. The latter seems to be most prevalent
and the employees of the school sometimes wish there was a city government
other than school that the knockers could cuss and discuss.

Of course we all make mistakes, even the School Board does, at times.
Las fall we were known as the mecca of the dimpled knee school teachers
just because the School Board attempted to cloth the lady teachers in smocks
that were to be exactly 10” from the floor. It gave the school and
the community nation-wide publicity, but I am wondering if it is just that
we should have received such publicity because of a mistake of four people.
It has caused much ill feeling and disorganization within the four square
miles.

There are four grade school buildings and one high school building in
Hazel Park. The highs school building is located at the center of
the district and the grade school buildings are placed at approximately
the center of each square mile.2

2. See map page 13
In June 1924, schools closed with 425 students and had 10 teachers.
At the close of school in June 1928, five years later there were 2800 children
in school and 112 teachers on the payroll.3 Because of the
rapid rate of growth it has been a big task for the School Board and the
school administrative employees to keep the children housed and the plans
for operating in working condition. Schools closed in June 1928 with 600
pupils in the lower grades on half-day sessions. Is this fair to
the boys and girls who are going to be our future citizens? On may
26, the district voted a $500,000.00 bond issue for a new high school,
but this will not relieve the congested conditions in the schools next
September when there will be at least 400 more enrolled than we closed
with in June. Despite all of the problems that we meet and try to solve
in the best possible way, the University of Michigan’s and North Central’s
accredited lists.

The health of the school children is entrusted to the care of three
full time nurses and one part time doctor. They examine the children
twice each year and recommend the correction that should be made.
The school doctor is called for consultation in cases where the nurses
need a doctor’s advice. He has the final authority on all cases of
importance. The nurses administrate service from the school offices
and go into the homes to help in many cases. Because of confidence
in the nurses and because of economy, the majority of parents call a physician
only in cases of severe sickness.

The district maintains a room for physically handicapped children under
the direction of a teacher with special training for the work. Corrections
are made for these children by some of the best specialists in Detroit.
The work that is being done for and by these children is cited with great
pride by the State Director of Physically Handicapped Children as one of
the best run
projects in the state of Michigan. A special school bus is used
to transport the children to and from school.
3. See Table, page 12

During the month of March 1928 about 1,100 school children were treated
with toxin antitoxin in the school by the township’s Health Officer, the
school doctor and the nurse so that they would be immune from the dreaded
disease of diphtheria. Approximately the same number treated for the disease
the previous year.

The Township’s Health Officer does little in the community except in
urgent cases and putting up and taking down house placards. The Royal
Oak Township Community Council nurse and doctor hold clinics for preschool
children in the high school building every other Saturday during the year.
Last spring the Parent Teacher Association canvassed the district to secure
the names of children who would enter the school for the first time in
September. Special clinics are held during the summer for these children
and recommendations for correction are made.

A dentist comes to the school 2 ½ days each week to take care
of the dental needs of the children at minimum cost.

We are proud to inform the public that in spite of all of the unhealthy
conditions that exist, we have never had an epidemic of any disease.
Nearly every spring there are several cases of measles and mumps, but the
schools have never been closed on account of disease.

Two dentists, three physicians and an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist
compose the group of men who take care of the health needs in Hazel Park.
One doctor maintains a small local hospital with 15 beds.

The death rate is high. This is due to the house congestion, unsanitary
conditions and poverty.

Social and Fraternal Life.

There are several social and fraternal organizations in Hazel Park.
Some of these are: The Odd Fellows, the Exchange Club, The Eastern Star,
the United Oaks Commerce Club, The Ladies Round Table Club, North End Civic
Association, Women’s Benefit Association, Rebeccas, The Ladies Community
Club and several church organizations. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Girl
Reserves, Y.M.C.A. Campfire Girls and many other social and hobby clubs
are carried on as part of the school program. Their specific aim
is to take care of the social and recreational needs of the boys and girls
so they will be under good influence and off the streets as much as possible.
There are two moving picture theaters that show a few good pictures, but
for the most part they are not a kind that should not be seen by the youth
of today. 4

Miscellaneous
The Detroit Community Fund extends its work into Royal Oak Township
where it is called the Royal Oak Township Branch. The Fund receives
donations in the territory, but uses approximately twice as much in Royal
Oak Township as is collected within its boundaries. One reason for
this is because many of the men live in Royal Oak Township and contribute
in Detroit where they work. Another reason is because of the big
brother feeling; Visiting Nurses are furnished, clinics are held, charity
cases are helped and many other forms of service are maintained by the
Council. The Township’s Poor Commission helps in some very extreme cases
of poverty but the help from this source is limited.
4. See map page 13
At the Christmas season when everybody would like to be happy and have
the spirit of giving, there are always many families who scarcely have
enough to eat and clothes to wear. Each year The Goodfellows help
bring a little Christmas cheer to the needy families by giving large baskets
of food topped with toys for the children. The money to pay for this
is obtained by selling newspapers that are donated by the newspaper companies.
Firemen, policemen, high school seniors and others help in the campaign.
The papers are sold for whatever one wishes to donate to the cause.
The clubs, churches and lodges cooperate each year in furnishing a community
Christmas tree. The local Exchange Club helps by each member taking
a needy family to provide a Christmas for. The club also gives a
picnic to the crippled children of the community during the month of August.

When work is scarce there are many needy people in the community.
Charity organizations do what they can, but do not reach all of the worthy
cases. In midwinter you often see boys and girls with only worn out
tennis shoes to protect their feet from the snow and ice. Many notes
are received at the office from parents who say that their children cannot
come to school because of insufficient clothing or shoes to wear and probably
they should go further and say because of lack of food.

Last year one of the school nurses reported the following incident that
she witnessed while visiting a home. It was suppertime and the five,
should be, healthy children, were asking for something to eat. Supper
was soon ready, the Mother poured part of a box of corn flakes into a wood-bottomed
chair and the five children ate. The nurse said that the cupboard
doors were open and the shelves were base, as well as on the table.
The mother, with tears in her eyes, said there was not another thing in
the house to eat, and no money to buy more.

A library has been installed in one of the schools and is open to the
public five hours each day.

The three main churches in Hazel Park are Community, Baptist and Methodist.
Other denominations are represented with Sunday schools and church services
from time to time.

There is one weekly newspaper published in the district called
“ The Hazel Park News”. Various other publications edited in Detroit,
Royal Oak and Pontiac adequately serve the population..

I have described the conditions as they exist in Hazel Park, having
taken all material from facts and figures.

I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed reading this description and
that I have described conditions well enough so that you can comprehend
them as they really exist.